Elsie

NHL Survivor

In November 2013, after experiencing several severe nose bleeds, I was diagnosed with a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer called Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia. It was in stage IV and I started chemotherapy treatments immediately.

For close to two years, there was little effect from the treatments. Finally, one of the chemo drugs started showing a positive sign and cancer in my blood was going down. However, not long after, I had a severe side effect from this drug, an acute liver failure that had me feeling worse than the chemo treatments. I was now dealing with cancer and liver failure.

A procedure was recommended to help alleviate fluid that was retained in my abdomen from my liver not working; my abdomen extended like a mother ready to give birth. That procedure was not successful and nearly took my life. The stress left me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I now had three medical problems; cancer, liver failure, and PTSD. I wrote a book that tells the moving and inspiring story of my cancer diagnosis, the medical treatments I experienced, and how I brought myself back to wellness through a healthy diet.

I am healthy, even though I am living with cancer. There is no cure for this disease, and at some point, I may need treatments again, but will never give up. Many thought I might not make it. I said, “Don’t go digging my grave!” For anyone facing cancer in its many forms, I want them to know it is possible to take their life back, to live on and live healthily.

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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.